Hermann Missouri- Part Two

As I had mentioned in my previous posting, we noticed many vineyards and wineries on Highway 94 coming into Hermann.  According to Hermann Area Visitor's Guide, the Hermann Wine Trail is made up of 7 wineries in and round the historic community, from Hermann to New Haven.  I am sure there are a few more outside of that prescribed area, going back further out of that area  to Augusta.  Back in the mid 1800s the town fathers nurtured the infant wine industry by selling "grape lots", vacant lots which the settlers could buy for $50.00, interest free, over a five-year period.  The only requirement was that the lot had to be planted in grapes.  There are two wineries which we saw, within the city proper, when we visited the town.  We drove past the Hermannhof, and stopped for lunch at the Stone Hill Winery.  As you may notice, from the picture below, the winery and vineyards of the latter winery are on a hill overlooking the town.

Stone Hill Winery and restaurant has been in operation since 1848, if you have not toured the place we would encourage you to do so because of its fascinating history.  Another tourist destination in the town is the Deutscheim State Historic Site, where it is possible to take a tour of two historic residences.  One of them is pictured below.  It is the Carl Strehly House, built in 1842.

It was the site of the radical journal Licht Freund,  published by Ed.Muehl and Carl Strehly.  Muehl was opposed to slavery and his influential voice among Germans helped Missouri to stay in the Union during the Civil War.   The building was enlarged later to include a winery.  We enjoyed our tour of the town,  primarily because it has kept many of its older buildings.  Some of them have been converted into inns as well as bed and breakfast homes.